Hannah Sunderman

Hannah M. Sunderman, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech in the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, Education, and Communication. Originally from rural South Dakota, Sunderman received a Ph.D. in Human Sciences with a Leadership Studies specialization from the University of Nebraska –Lincoln in May 2020. Her work is centered on leader(ship) education and development and seeks to answer the question: What processes and experiences (e.g., being a mentor, formal leadership positions, grading practices) affect leader(ship) development and why? Her emergent research is at the intersection of leader identity development and meaning making. As an educator, Sunderman applies her research findings to foster a connected, experiential, and reflective learning environment. She teaches courses on interpersonal skills for leadership, leading groups and teams, research ethics, and leadership theory.